The Israeli delegation for earthquake relief arrived in Caracas on Wednesday. Social media reports Thursday morning indicate search-and-rescue operations are already underway, using drone-mounted Israeli technology to locate survivors under rubble. This marks the first official Israeli presence in Venezuela since diplomatic relations were severed in 2009, according to Abu Ali Express.
The official Israeli aid delegation arrived in Caracas on Wednesday, marking the first Israeli governmental presence in Venezuela since diplomatic relations were severed in 2009, according to Abu Ali Express. By Thursday morning, social media reports indicated that search-and-rescue operations have begun on the ground, using drone-mounted Israeli technology to locate survivors under rubble, though the official IDF statement had said operational activity would start only after completing preparations.
The development follows a sequence of reports: At 19:06 on Wednesday, The Zioneer reported the delegation's arrival and the start of coordination meetings, led by incoming Ambassador to Mexico Yoad Magen and Home Front Command deputy chief Brig.-Gen. Elad Edri. The first landing had been reported by N12, with the team expected to head into the field on Thursday. By Thursday at 08:28, an earlier bulletin noted that while the advance team was meeting local authorities, social media was already showing search activity underway. The latest reports from Thursday morning now confirm that search-and-rescue teams and IDF officers are operating on the ground.
Israel had considered a humanitarian mission after the 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck, as The Zioneer reported on June 25. A joint IDF-Foreign Ministry delegation was announced on June 30, and an initial Israeli rescue team from NGOs had already deployed days earlier. The international relief effort has grown to 16 nations.
The full scope of the official mission, including the number of Israeli personnel involved, has not yet been confirmed by the IDF or Foreign Ministry. The official death toll stands at 2,295, with more than 11,000 wounded and over 700 aftershocks recorded.
7 developments
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- StrongIsraeli rescue team reports extensive, extraordinary destruction in Venezuela quake zone
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